Claudia J. Sokol of Summit Hill, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 22, 2013, after collapsing while performing traffic control duties as a fire police officer at the scene of a motor vehicle accident. Claudia was born on August 30, 1957, in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of the late Robert and Gretchen (Willing) Ehle.
Claudia, was an outstanding member of the Diligence Fire Company No. 1 of Summit Hill, where she had served since 2007. She was also an outstanding member of her community and church, where she is and will be greatly loved and missed by all.
Claudia helped run the Lutheran Food Pantry in Lansford and was a volunteer for the Number 9 Coal Mine and Museum. She was a cheerleading coach for the Panther Valley Knee-Hi Program and a member of the Panther Valley High School chain crew for home varsity football games. She helped with Panther Valley Breaker Boys football team, where her husband, Dave, served as assistant coach. Each year, she volunteered her time at the Summit Hill Memorial Day Weekend Stay-at-Home Festival, parade, and 5K run.
Claudia worked full-time at the Panther Valley School District and Kistler Transportation Company as a bus monitor for 26 years and was previously employed by the Jim Thorpe School District for 10 years. She touched many little hearts over those 36 years. She loved children and enjoyed singing with and teaching them. In the summer, she worked part-time at Mahoning Valley Speedway and Mountain Speedway.
Claudia was the wife of David M. Sokol Sr., with whom she celebrated their 36th anniversary just days before her passing. Claudia was a loving, caring, and faithful wife, mother, Grammy, sister, aunt, and friend who would do anything and everything for anyone. She was a full-time caretaker for her Aunt Betty.
Claudia loved spending time with her grandkids and family. She enjoyed cooking, planting flowers, sharing family dinners, shopping, swimming, camping, and family trips. She also enjoyed phone calls with her brother and sisters and being together to make memories.
Claudia is survived by her husband, David; her son, David Jr., and his fiancée, Beth Burkert; daughters Jennifer (Ron) Kusse and Patty Werner; a brother, Robert Ehle; sisters, Elizabeth (Wes) Miller, Gretchen (Robert) Kunkle, Barbara (Mark) Kesterson, and Laura Mattera; grandchildren Ashley Collins, Megan Kusse, Ryan Kusse, Tori Utruta, and Cody Utruta; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Sharon Norton.
Claudia Sokol was a hero to her family, friends, fellow firefighters, and community at large. She will always live within us. We treasure the memories, love, support, courage, guidance, and faithfulness that she gave us throughout our lives.
Happy Memorial Day mommy. We love and miss u so much. Not a day goes by that we don’t think about u. Fly high Xoxoxo
– Patricia Werner JrLove u forever
And
For always,
Dad, Pattie, Tori, and
Cody